Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio said Thursday that Morocco's claim to Spain's enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast had no legal grounds under international law.
In response to the remarks by Morocco's King Mohammed, who earlier this week criticized Spain for its rejection to negotiate on the issue of the two enclave cities held by Spain for centuries, the foreign minister stated these areas are under "unquestionable" Spanish sovereignty.
"Under the international law, the situation is quite clear: Ceuta and Melilla are territory of the European Union, unlike Gibraltar," she told a local radio. "Portraying Spain as a colonialist country over Ceuta and Melilla cannot be justified under any law. This is the reply of the Spanish government," she added.
Spain has consistently maintained that the future of the two city enclaves is not up for negotiations. (Albawaba.com)
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